Journey

Read that in a short story recently and thought …yes , that’s it …to journey is to encounter the space between things

What things…? is really about the people and their “way” …

When you bring any cast or any group of people together in an artistic space it will always be their energy , passion and hunger that drives the work to its end point.

I will admit to now stalling slightly , with my notion of a new direction in PACE this term …and dont quite know why .

The Space became a bandied about word last term, ” PACE banter ” for wont of a better phrase perhaps meaning different things to different people.

A place to get to?
A place to find yourself put ?
Another group in the PACE elite firmament?
A word ?

Who knows what thoughts traverse young drama minds – from A to B is such a personal direction here and one which is made with varying degrees of creativity over the long years spent inside our doors.

No it’s safe to say, the “art of the new” is a more difficult journey and I am entering this “space between things” with mild artistic trepidation. A bit , Hype v Home.

How perfect an idea can seem in the artist’s imagination but the enactment – a whole other reality.

So I would ask those who wait out there , for this journey to start, to be patient with me. To let me come to this start, in good time.

One thing is ever true , I want it to be the best and for that I need to be sure of “the who” that can make it better.

This clouds my vision still. This uncertainty in the names who still skirt round a PACE registered page.

Perhaps it is better to call it “empty” – till it is filled with something that merits an artful space name.

The English sculptor Phyllida Barlow recently describing her venue for her current art instillation ” SET ” for the Edinburgh Art Festival in the Fruit Market Gallery, said that for her “building canvas” – the space was in a state of transition

I get that , the transition word – you end one year of work …you wait to see who resurfaces and then work on with what remains …the work is always shaped and determined by the material available in any thing…

The clay , the wood , the light , the muse for the sculptor is the start point for anything and everything.

Maybe this statement helped her materialise her recycled , scrim full, industrial art blockade – her concerns about the urban environment and how we navigate it , how it confines us.

She has had rave reviews in the Art world for it , the way people interact with it , how it changed them when they visited it. And though never interested in this kind of work before I found myself now seeing it through fresh perspective.

Because I know that this is the same for any drama process too , the mine field of emotion, personality and inhibition we must sail through to break free of the wire , mesh and steel chains around us. The performance that comes amazingly from the fallout and artistic debris along the way.

“The space is in a state of transition” , is a really good phrase to carry with us now , as we try to make our way through potential apathy , doubt and confusion about PACE at this higher level.

We will always need Art in our lives , even if we think we have reached that upper secondary or end of school water shed that many come to , when they look at those coming up around them and think often misguidedly – I don’t fit here anymore.

Why isn’t maturity the start of another PACE direction ? A way up to 20 …from 15.

Intellect is best fed with art , literature , music , dance, theatre, cinema and performance

Intelligence is heightened through the joint application of learning and the imagination

You can study for eternity but will never fully grow as a human being without the ability to feel and communicate that learning to others – art is the eternal conduit “to better” enlightenment.

Exposure to the Arts and Culture enhance the process of making you whole. Lose the thread and the material may start to unravel.

If anything has come out of my recent ” spaced out ” state of mind , then I want it to be this:

– That a group of young people will emerge slowly that need this same theatre art and culture stimulation that I do.

– That there should never be the pressure to please for the sake of it – that we surmount the inevitable blockades that life presents us through artful and/or scholastic circumstance, together

– That nothing is ever set here that can’t be changed for the better

The art of creation is a thing too precious to let go in our life at whatever age , without some thing equally precious to replace it.

Controversy is what keeps us hooked, that and the chance that some thing great may happen along the way.

Anyway isn’t Art always controversial?

…whether it is presented as a play , a book , a piece of music or even currently in Edinburgh , as an outrageous instillation named ” Holoturian ” showcasing a Mexican performance artists ongoing project to communicate with whales and dolphins …

You see I think there is always room for the less popular in any art form , the less easy to understand , the less attractive initially , the more beneficial in the end .

Even Drag is now finding its niche in the Arts , recognised as a highly artful , more theatrical form of expression much like cabaret and burlesque .

Who would have thought Ru Paul could have revolutionised the world?

Marginalised entertainment will always find a way to the light and we have social media to thank for this at least.

Tomorrow I take to the Edinburgh’s Festival with wider eyes and perhaps a bit more purpose.

Not the usual quick show and bite to eat , but rather a revisiting of old ground, the recognition of achievement by talented others and perhaps the hope that some thing more permanent comes from this annual train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh

As a by….

The blogs submitted to me , were enjoyable under less creative circumstance , a little bit of “completion duty” perhaps, stifling with some, a more obvious artistic growth.

I would hope that this is something that a space worthier group of PACE can work
more ” actively ” on over the coming year …the blogging because we like it , not because we have to…

After all “One swallow doesn’t make a summer” …and I believe there is life in the blogging fingers of many a more creative pace subject yet.

On the subject of swallows ..and to end this bloggers summer arts journey …

Stef Smith’s new play ” Swallow ” is billed as the festival headline of the Traverse Theatre this year

A 3 woman play featuring 3 different females at alternating stages of life’s darker moments

Stef Smiths penchant for poetic irony is plain to see , her use of narration , fast becoming her playwright signature

A former PACE panto baddie , plays out here , as a woman amidst an alchohol dilemma.

Transgenderism in another , again , a motif for Stef more poignantly to explore

Granted it has had initial mixed reviews – like it or dislike it – being the critics and audience rule of first thumb

I’d like to see it …I like Stef Smith , I think she has a good heart and a moral compass and that, in any playwright, is no bad thing these days.

The name ” swallow ” is evocative of a time in our lives when we should soar …but maybe she means it in another way altogether and already a darker overtone is there to see.

A play I would hope to get some of you along to , very soon , is

“Our lady of perpetual succour”

– the latest NTS offering – again an all female cast and this time centred round a Catholic girls choir , on an outing to a competition with other things than singing on their mind!

– the writers of Billy Elliot have a hand in this production and it promises to be the best of “music theatre” without the usual ” musical ” tag .

Karen Fishwick is in it , a young actress ( pace panto beauty ) doing very well for herself , with the ongoing actors grim reality of chasing jobs and still trying to hang on to starry dreams.

It comes to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow in Septemebr post Edinburgh Festival debut and will be some thing to look forward to as we settle down perhaps into our own theatre space by then.

There is however nothing stopping you from beginning your personal PACE journey now – plenty above to read , take in and even blog about.

I would even consider taking some on a trip to Edinburgh next weekend ? and letting you go discover things for yourself – with a gentle pointer in the right artistic direction.

All you have to do is let it be known you are interested.

In this life you can’t just sit around and what for things to come to you , same in PACE , you have to get up and get them going yourself – any better performance journey begins with you taking the first more eager step forward.

And “The space between things” will quickly fill , the moment you are motivated enough to make this happen.

I hope it won’t be too long before our next “voyage” begins

See some of you at Marcus Guy workshop on Wednesday night , a chance to touch base with some other Pace members again , perspective is always a good thing!

And if not then hope to hear from you soon

X

Some

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9 Responses to Journey

Had a read about both "Swallow" and "Our lady of perpetual succour", after reading I felt that our lady seemed like my cup of tea and swallow perhaps not so much- but I'll try and get to both and see where my opinion lies then. Also, the section about needing art kind of hit me a little. Although art has been present in my life lately in different ways, it all seems a little vague with all the rush and dread of returning to school. So much so that looking through pictures of Phyllida Barlow's art got my blood pumping a little quicker. Her sculptures aren't by any manner of means attractive but a lot more intriguing and interesting to look at and attempt to analyse than a pretty picture. I think "The space" will become what the people who are lucky enough to create it, make it. Almost like a "construction" that will concern difficulties, growth and everything that needs to be encountered in art as it continues to build. Also, I for one would definitely be up for a day in Edinburgh- I very rarely go and haven't had the chance to see the things I'd like to there. See you Wednesday.
Sophie x

I too, read up on ' Swallow ' and ' Our lady of perpeutal succour '. Personally I preferred the sound of Swallow rather than Our lady! Maybe it was because I have never seen anything like it before as I tend to stick to seeing musicals or maybe it was the problems the characters faced as people watching can relate to them. I am intrigued to find out more and discover more plays like it! Also I would love it if we went for a day in Edinburgh! As I live further away I can't go too often and I missed the fringe last year but I wanted to go this year! Maybe now I can go with people who want to explore the different types of art that are on for show.

Just watched a short video there about Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, and it was the producer talking , and she said that the set up of the production was very much like a gig, and it had a live band on stage. This was something that really intrigued me, because to me, having live music on stage always seems to make a play more authentic ! Also, as soon as I clicked on the Guardians review of Swallow the first picture that appeared had my heart pounding! It looks like a fantastic production. I know that a picture can never convey how much there is to a play, so I really hope that I can go see it before the fringe finishes!
The Space I think will be very like Phyllida Barlow's structures- without every single part of each of her structures, they would surely fall to the ground or not look the way the need to. In the Space , every one that is privileged enough to encounter it will play a vital part in it, as every single person is needed for the 'end result' to be standing strong. It is a journey to make as a group and as an individual. A quote that really sticks out in my mind to sum it up for me , although cliché and over used is, 'From tiny acorns , mighty oaks will grow.'
Also- definitely up for a trip to the Fringe! Not been able to go yet , and looks like there is some amazing stuff on.
See you tomorrow , Carla

I would 1005 be interested in a trip to edinburgh next weekend, I have been trying to get myself along to edinburgh and have been scouring the fringe book with everything thats on in it and have seen loads of things I would love to see but haven't acted upon my want. Also took a lookout swallow and our lady of perpetual succour - didn't know what perpetual succour meant but I had a look at that too, it means never ending assistance/ support in times of hardship or distress) I can't say that I would prefer either but I do love the look of them both. They both sound amazing and will definitely try to get myself along. Need to become more motivated with things like this, I have been meaning to go and see more plays and theatre for at least a year now and it has just never happened. I suppose you have to start somewhere and hopefully a trip to edinburgh next weekend can be that start.
Angus

I have always fancied going to the Fringe, a hub of arts and culture, outside our under an hour train journey door step.i have heard raving reviews from fortunate friends detailing on how much they enjoyed the experience. I find it amazing how, here in the place we call home, we can invite all cultural and artistic things in for a cup of tea and a slice of shortbread, all so we can see their soul.
Really looking forward to Sunday, I'll be sure to take lots of photos, breathe in the ambiance of culture and creativity and definitely have a more prestigious bite to eat.
See you Sunday
Adam

Since I was little I've always been taken to the fringe. One woman plays to dozens of dancers in a movement production, I've found myself seated right there in the stalls. It's just been a part of who I am. As I've gotten older though and started to understand what has been happening, I've been trusted with choosing the things my family and I go to see. "My lady of perpetual succour" I've actually seen a lot recently on the traverse theatre Twitter. Im always found of plays with a bit of music in them, I guess music can express what words can't and I always feel it adds more pace to a production. Would be very interested in both a trip to this play and Edinburgh to go see something at the fringe. I agree that I too have found a soft spot for stef smiths writing,perhaps through having most of her words ingrained in me but mostly I feel through her delicate and also raw expression. Poetic playwrights that have a strong sense of groundedness and also naturalistic style are quite rare i feel. Most poetic writers often become excessive for me, but the succinct way in which she does it I feel is a true talent.
Looked into an interview with Phyllida Barlow about her "hoard" sculptor. In this she talks about her work. She says how some pieces have clarity as to what exactly they are, while others there is no clarity. She follows up by saying "nearly all of the work is susceptible to change during the process, even if I had a clear idea to start with" I felt like this point in particular really reminded me of how the Space is likely to be in the future. As far as ideologies go, while a good starting point, they are undoubtably likely to change as nothing has been tested before. If we are lucky enough to go into this, we go in completely blind and vurnable to all possiblity. We're all hoping to take part on this, for various reasons of course, but I feel the fundemental thing that will seal the group of those "braver hearts" together will be the curiosity of possibility, and the determination to live up to ideology and create new paths that we didn't even know could exsist.
See you hopefully soon on whatever road we go on.
Carla x

I love the concept of the fringe allowing someone to have such a huge opportunity is amazing. From what I've seen previous years the work produced is amazing. It's also such a beautiful atmosphere not my dad's cup of tea but you cannot please everyone I guess...I would of loved to have gone to the fringe but money was tight so I couldn't. However I did read about 'swallow' and 'our lady successor' both sounded incredibly interesting! Hope everyone had a great time who went!

On sunday I finally took the trip to the fringe and experienced the buzz myself. It was my first my time going there since I was wee (which is extremely hard to take in the fringe when you're 5 and need the toilet every 5 minutes). I instantly fell in love. The bustle, the buzz, the noise, the adventure was all simply brilliant. We took a trip to the charles Avery exhibition, which is just so filled with drama and so so intriguing and mysterious, and then went to see phylidda barlow for ourselves. I thought she was great. Upstairs there was a video of her playing as she was being interviewed and she said something that i just really identified with: "Spontaneity is so hard to achieve in art. By the time you have the materials ready you can't help but know what you want to do because ideas are endless", she then went on to say how thats why she liked setting her pieces with no significant viewing angle, so that the spontaneity came out of the viewing of her art. 2 extremely interesting exhibitions I thought, that showed me a different idea to my perspective of modern art. We then took the long walk down the mile and up to the pleasance and then down to the underbelly. We did dip into a short free improvisation show, which unfortunately was not great at all :)), but even the fact I was around it and in that atmosphere and just seeing what this sector of the artisans world looked like I was already broadening my horizons. Its really worth the trip, I promise you for anyone that is considering going.